STD & HIV Info

STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)

 Sexually transmitted diseases are among the most common infections in the United States today. Listed below are many of the common sexually transmitted diseases, how it’s acquired and their symptoms. Some of the STD’s listed below can be treated with medication and are curable, while others can not be cured but can be managed with medication.

Chlamydia- An infections caused by bacteria which is transmitted during vaginal, oral or anal sex with an infected partner.

Symptoms can show up within 7-28 days after having sex. Symptoms between men and women vary. Women can experience vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, burning or pain during urination, pain in abdomen, fever and nausea. Men can experience discharge from the penis, buring or pain during urination, frequent urination, and swollen or tender testicles. Left untreated, Chlamydia can cause PID (pelvic inflammatory diesease) in women and epididymitis in men. Both are serious health conditions which can cause infertility. Women who have untreated chlamydia can pass is onto her baby during birth.

 Chlamydia is treatable and curable with testing and medication treatment.

Genital Warts (HPV)- Is contracted during vaginal, anal or oral sex and sometimes by genital touching with soemone who has genital warts.

 Symptoms typically show up within one to eight months after catching the virus. Some people experience no symptoms at all while others can have small, bumpy warts on the sex organs and anus, also itching or burning around the sex organs. A mother can pass genital warts onto her baby during childbirth.

 Left untreated in women, HPV can cause precancerous changes to the cervix, and can also cause cervical cancer or anal cancer. There are medication treatments available by prescription from a health care provider. Young women and girls ages 9-26 can be vaccinated against HPV. This vaccination is available at the health department and also your local health care provider.

Gonorrhea-Is caused by a bacteria that grows in moist, warm areas of the body such as the cervix, urethra, throat and rectum. Gonorrhea is spread during vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected partner. A infected mother can pass this infection onto her baby during childbirth.

 Symptoms vary between men and women and can show up anywhere from two to twenty days after having sex. Female symptoms include abnormal vaginal discharge, burning and/or pain during urination/bowel movements, abnormal periods, bleeding between periods, abdominal cramping, vomiting and fever. Symptoms present in men include discharge from the penis, burning and/or pain during urination/bowel movements, frequent urination and swollen/tender testicles.

Left untreated Gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, infertility and ectopic pregnancy. Men can experience epididymitis which can also lead to infertility. Gonorrhea can be treated with appropriate testing and prescription medication.

Herpes-A contagious viral infection that will spread during vaginal, anal and oral sex with an infected partner. There are two types of herpes, type one which causes sores on the lips and type two which causes genital sores.

 Symptoms can appear within one to thirty days after having sex. Symptoms include flu-like feelings, small painful blisters in the sex organs or mouth, itching or burning before the blisters appear and blisters that last one to three weeks. Herpes can be spread from a mother to her baby during childbirth.

Herpes can not be cured but can become more manageable with medication treatment.

Syphilis-A bacteria that is spread from the infected partner to the individual during vaginal, anal and oral sex. Pregnant mothers infected with the disease can pass it onto the baby during pregnancy.

 Syphilis has several stages. The first stage of symptoms can show up within one to twelve weeks after having sex with an infected partner. These symptoms include painless sore(s) on the mouth or sex organs, with the sores lasting two to sex weeks. The second stage includes a rash on the body and flu-like feelings. The final stage includes the infection spreading to the brain, nervous system, heart, skin and bones. Without treatment, syphilis can cause heart disease, brain damage, blindness and death. 

Syphilis is treatable and can be cured with prescription medication.

Trichomoniasis (“Trich”)- A disease that is spread during vaginal sex. Symptoms may show up in three to fourteen days after having sex with an infected partner.

Symptoms in men and women vary. Women can experience itching, burning or irritation in the vagina, along with discharge that is yellow, green or gray in color. Men can experience discharge from the penis, burning or pain during urination, and frequent urination. Without treatment, men can develop prostatitis or epididymitis.

Trich can be treated with prescription medication. 

HIV/AIDS-HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV causes AIDS by damaging the immune system cells until the immune system can no longer fight off other infections that it would usually be able to prevent. HIV can be found in the blood and the sexual fluids of an infected individual. It can also be found in the breast milk of an infected woman. A person can become infected with HIV by having unprotected sex with an infected person, coming into contact with an infected person’s blood, using infected blood products, sharing needles to inject drugs and from mother to child during breastfeeding.

 Symptoms of HIV can show up anywhere from several months to several years after contracting the virus. Some initial symptoms include unexplained weight loss and fatigue, flu-like symptoms that don’t go away, diarrhea, white spots in the mouth and lingering yeast infections in women. Symptoms of HIV can be treated with prescription medications.

There is no cure for it.

Testing can be obtained at:

Macon County Health Department

Planned Parenthood

Local Health Care Provider